Pages

Sunday, November 17, 2013

More Than a Game

I’ve been thinking about yesterday’s football game, and I’ve decided that six words just aren’t enough to dedicate to the afternoon, so I’m going to chat about it just a little bit more today.

First, let me just say that I was totally overwhelmed to simply have the tickets given to me, particularly by my boss. Well, okay, technically by my boss’ wife, but still. They’re a couple, there were two tickets, you gotta figure they at least halfway came from my boss. Anyway, I thought it was very nice, especially since I still feel like something of an outsider at the office, even after almost six months. So it was nice.

And, as I believe I may have mentioned, they were excellent seats. Brian kept saying he was sure someone was going to realize we didn’t really belong and come kick us out. Silly man. But he really enjoyed the location. And it really was a different perspective than from the cheap seats we usually inhabit.

But, besides the normal football playing, we got to see a couple of other things during the game, as well. For one thing, there was the goofball who decided to run out onto the field during a commercial break. Who ever knows what people are thinking when they do such foolishness, but the fans gave a roar of appreciation for the highway patrolman who brought the guy down.

Of more significance, though, was an event that happened earlier in the game. You know those surprise military reunions that make the rounds of news clips and YouTube posts? Well, we were treated to seeing one live, and if you ever think those videos are doctored or something to make them more emotional, I’m here to say that they are not.

At each home game, OU has a military recognition moment; whether an active duty or vet, they recognize someone who has served. So it didn’t seem all that strange when they were recognizing a man who was still serving in Afghanistan. His family was on the field to accept on his behalf, and he had a taped message to play on the big screen. But then the Sooner Schooner was coming out onto the field, and the crowd—and his family—realized what was happening. It was great to see and there were giant smiles and misty eyes all over that stadium.

So, all in all, free tickets and great seats weren’t anywhere near the best things about the day, and I’m really glad we were there to take it all in.